The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Don’t scrap Amnesty Programme, Itsekiri leader tells govt

    Don’t scrap Amnesty Programme, Itsekiri leader tells govt

    The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) is a great initiative and should not be scrapped, Niger Delta activist and frontline Itsekiri leader Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor has said.

    He believes PAP requires reform and honest and competent administrators who can steer it to its full potential.

    There was recently talk that the Federal Government was considering ending the 13-year scheme, on the ground, among others, that it had outlived its usefulness.

    But Lori-Ogbebor, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, reasoned that scrapping the programme might precipitate a crisis, engineered by corrupt persons unlawfully benefitting from the scheme.

    She offered instead that the Federal Government should find selfless persons to run the PAP so that it can be properly implemented and have the desired effects on ex-militants and other beneficiaries.

    The PAP, led by Interim Administrator, Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (retd), announced in November that auditors uncovered a massive payroll fraud in the programme.

    It said about 513 persons were linked to multiple payments, adding that the Ndiomu management immediately initiated verification of all beneficiaries of the programme as part of the investigation.

    Commenting on the feasibility of the PAP, Lori-Ogbebor said: “The idea is good, but like what Jesus Christ said, the harvest is big but the labourers are few; the men who administer the laudable programme are not there.

    Read Also: How PAP will continue to meet training needs of ex-agitators, by Ndiomu

    “If you cancel it, there will be trouble and it is those few administrators that will engineer the crisis in the region if it is cancelled.

    “They will tell the youths that their problem is with the Federal Government for cancelling the programme.

    “So, where do we now find the labourers, the selfless men? That is the big problem. As a mother, all I can say is for us to search for good men to continue with the programme.

    “But, we should all know that the bad Niger Delta men are in the federal setup.

    “They are now holding the governors responsible for what is happening. But, what of the Niger Delta men at the top, who are causing trouble?”

    Commenting on the state of the nation ahead of this year’s general elections, the elder stateswoman advised Nigerians to consider the candidates’ vision and competence before making a choice.

    “The leader that Nigeria needs at the moment is the man who has a holistic idea of how to move the country forward,” Lori-Ogbebor said.

  • Cole, Abe promise prosperity for Rivers

    Cole, Abe promise prosperity for Rivers

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State Tonye Cole, and his Social Democratic Party (SDP) counterpart Magnus Abe, have promised prosperity if elected.

    They spoke on Wednesday at the 30th Anniversary of Ogoni Day in Bori, Khana Local Government Area.

    Cole said his government would consolidate on the APC-led Federal Government’s efforts to clean up Ogoniland.

    He promised that his administration would ensure the completion of the electrification project by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in all parts of Ogoniland.

    He insisted that the ongoing Bonny-Bodo road was proof that the APC government prioritised the interest of the Ogoni people.

    On his part, Abe, who hails from Ogoni, appealed to the people to forget the past and concentrate on the future.

    He said if elected his government would revamp the security architecture of the state to ensure the safety of lives and property of Rivers people and promote prosperity.

    The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People(MOSOP) called for the resolution of all disagreements in the ethnic nationality to ensure unity among the people.

    Read Also: Ezea: PDP can’t stop Labour Party in Enugu

    President of MOSOP, Prince Bira, who addressed Ogoni people comprising four councils of Eleme, Gokana, Khana and Tai in the state lamented that politics had divided Ogoni people instead of unifying them.

    He, however, said that from January to March, Ogoni people would ask HYPREP to give an account of all the money appropriated in the past six years.

    He said: “This year, 2023, we will call the management of HYPREP to explain in black and white how it expended the resources given to them.

    “The Ogoni people will demand accountability between now and March this year, we demand to know how much was given and how much has been spent.

    “They use our brother to create division and to stop us from marking Ogoni Day but that must stop. Divided we fall, united we stand and we must be united.”

  • Don Jazzy: I might go broke if I continue giving strangers money

    Don Jazzy: I might go broke if I continue giving strangers money

    Mavin Records boss, Don Jazzy, has said gets a lot of strange calls from people who beg him for money, and most times he gives them.

    He said he would go broke if he continues giving.

    He appreciated his brother, General, for being his guardian angel and security in helping out with managing and preserving his wealth else he would have gone bankrupt by now.

    According to Don Jazzy, people randomly call his line with the flimsiest excuse and are able to get money off him because he’s ‘very bad with money’.

    Jazzy also revealed certain people are responsible for the incessant calls he gets from strangers as they willfully sell his phone numbers to these people so that they could call him for no reason.

    For that reason, the music executive who recently turned 40 confessed his phone is constantly on ‘do not disturb’ mode.

    “My phone is forever on ‘Do Not Disturb’ (DND). I know that some people will think that I am cocky or forming but that’s not the point.

    Read Also: Being too accessible can cause brokenness says Don Jazzy

    “They sell the number so people will just message me for no reason.

    “When I’m in a good mood and I pick the calls and the conversation is getting longer they will tell you that they bought the number but they can’t tell you who sold it to them,” said Don Jazzy.

    “You have to set some boundaries. Even if I don’t want to, my brother (General) is like my guardian angel, security, and everything.

    “He tries as much as possible to reduce the number of people that get to me because I’m very bad with money.

    “You can lie any stupid lie and I will give you the money but if I continue that way I can go broke.”

  • EFCC secures 3,785 convictions, loses 41 cases

    EFCC secures 3,785 convictions, loses 41 cases

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it secured 3,785 convictions across all its commands in 2022.

    It is the highest-ever conviction rate since inception.

    It said the figure represents a 98.93 per cent success rate in prosecution because it lost only 41 cases, representing 1.07 per cent within the period.

    EFCC Head, Media & Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, stated these in a statement on Wednesday.

    He said the figure emerged from a review of the Commission’s performance in the outgone year.

    According to him, the agency recorded a 70.5 per cent improvement over its record for 2021, when it secured 2,220 convictions.

    Uwujaren said: “As it was in 2021, the Lagos Command of the Agency recorded the most convictions – 765, closely followed by the Ibadan Command with 573 convictions and the Port Harcourt Zonal Command – 567, while the headquarters recorded 314 convictions.

    “The convictions secured by the Commission in 2022 is the highest by the EFCC since inception and sustains an upward trajectory which began shortly after the emergence of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The Buhari administration was elected in 2015 on a tripod of promises – anti-corruption, economic recovery, and security. In 2015, EFCC recorded a total of 103 convictions.

    Read Also: EFCC to auction 61 luxury flats, lands in 12 states

    “This shot to 195 convictions in 2016, the first full year in office of the Buhari administration.

    “The figure improved to 312 in 2018, 1280 in 2019, dropped slightly to 976 convictions in 2020, the year of Covid-19, then moved up to 2220 in 2021.

    “The percentile improvement of the EFCC convictions in the seven years of the Buhari administration from 103 to 3785, is over 3574.8 per cent.”

    Uwujaren added that EFCC Executive Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa commended the Agency’s personnel “for their industry and dedication despite the challenges of criminal prosecution in court”.

    “He assured that the EFCC will continue to motivate all categories of staff for greater efficiency through capacity development and other incentives.”

  • Bagudu: All APC governors will deliver states for Tinubu

    Bagudu: All APC governors will deliver states for Tinubu

    Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, on Wednesday said all the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors will deliver their states for Asiwaju Ahmad Bola Tinubu in next month’s presidential poll.

    Bagudu, who is the chairperson of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), said this at the mega rally for Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.

    It was held at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata, Kano.

    “All the APC governors are united and have promised to deliver Asiwaju Bola Ahmad Tinubu at the presidential election.

    “We know that Tinubu will replicate what he did in Lagos nationwide when he is elected president of this country,” Bagudu said.

    Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, said no other political party can penetrate Kano given how strongly APC has held it.

    “All the borders have been closed,” Lalong, who is the Director General of Tinubu’s presidential campaign council, said.

    Read Also: 2023 Presidency: Why I flaunt Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

    Tinubu said he was overwhelmed by the unprecedented crowd that turned out for the rally and the rousing welcome accorded him.

    “I will serve you; I will serve Nigerians and protect all.

    “I am overwhelmed; I am here just to dance (play the music). Nagode (thank you), nagode, nagode. So sai,” Tinubu said.

    ReplyForward
  • Court refuses to sack INEC chair over assets declaration

    Court refuses to sack INEC chair over assets declaration

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Garki has dismissed a suit seeking the investigation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, over alleged false assets declaration.

    In the judgment on Wednesday, Justice M. A. Hassan found that Yakubu complied with all relevant requirements in declaring his assets.

    Justice Hassan held that the declaration of assets by the INEC chair was lawful, valid and in compliance with the law.

    The judge further held that having complied with the relevant laws in his assets declaration, Yakubu could not be investigated by any of the nation’s security agencies, as requested by the claimant.

    Justice Hassan, who declined to grant any of the 14 reliefs sought in the suit, declared that the INEC Chairman could not be removed from office over an unsubstantiated allegation of false assets declaration.

    The judgment was on the suit marked: FCT/HC/GAR/CV/47/2022, filed by Somadina Uzoabaka.

    Uzoabaka had among others, queried the authenticity of the assets declaration made by Yakubu and urged the court to compel security agencies to probe the INEC boss’ claims.

    In the suit with Yakubu and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as defendants, the claimant prayed the court for an order of mandatory injunction directing and compelling the INEC Chair to recuse, excuse and exclude himself and or step down from office pending the investigation of the various allegations against him by security agencies.

    Read Also: INEC: 661,783 PVCs waiting for collection in Edo

    The claimant also sought an order stopping the INEC Chair from holding or assuming any public office for 10 years.

    In his response, Yakubu faulted Uzoabaka’s claims.

    The INEC boss tendered documents before the court to establish the sources of the funds with which he purchased the assets which the claimant claimed were illegally acquired.

    Yakubu insisted that his assets declaration was validly done, a position Justice Hassan upheld in his judgment on Wednesday.

  • Onochie, others inaugurated as NDDC board members

    Onochie, others inaugurated as NDDC board members

    The new board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been inaugurated by the Minister of the Niger Delta Development Affairs, Umana Okon Umana.

    It is chaired by Lauretta Onochie, a former aide to President Muhamadu Buhari.

    Umana urged the board to shun the indiscriminate award of contracts.

    Read Also: ‘Buhari’s choice of Onochie is boost for female inclusion in governance’

    Onochie said the board was determined to do things differently.

    She urged the stakeholders to give the board breathing space to deliver on its mandate.

    Details soon.

  • Bobrisky congratulates self on ‘becoming’ a woman

    Bobrisky congratulates self on ‘becoming’ a woman

    Controversial crossdresser, Okuneye Olarenwaju Idris, aka Bobrisky, has announced his/her gender ‘transformation’.

    The self-styled ‘Mummy of Lagos’, in an Instagram post, celebrated becoming a full-grown woman.

    Bob stated nobody from the online community could argue his/her ‘claim’ because they had never seen him/her naked.

    Read Also: My hairs can buy house in Lekki, Bobrisky brags

    “Yes I get wet. None of u can argue that with me cos you haven’t seen me naked before so you wouldn’t know.

    “By d way congrats to me I’m now a full-grown WOMAN.”

    “A full grown woman with nice boobs and sweet,” read the post caption.

    ReplyForward
  • NAF gets new spokesman, redeploys area officer commanders, others

    NAF gets new spokesman, redeploys area officer commanders, others

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday announced the appointment of a new spokesperson, Air Commodore Wapkerem Maigida.

    In a statement by Group Captain Joel Abioye, on behalf of the new Director of Public Relations & Information Nigerian Air Force, the appointments are to ensure operational efficiency and effective service delivery.

    The statement noted that the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, also approved the appointment and redeployment of new branch chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), Commandants of Tri-Service and Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Institutions.

    The NAF also appointed Air Commodore Olayinka Oyesola as the Air Component Commander, Joint Task Force Northeast, Operation Hadin Kai.

    According to the statement, the newly appointed branch chiefs are Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Jackson Yusuf, formerly Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), who is now the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans (CDPP), Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja.

    The statement added: “AVM Idi Lubo, erstwhile Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, is now Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP) HQ NAF.

    Read Also; Buhari reappoints FRSC, lottery commission, NAFDAC, other agency heads

    “AVM Mohammed Yakubu, immediate past Commandant Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) is now appointed Chief of Aircraft Engineering, HQ NAF.

    “AVM Ayoola Jolasinmi, former CDPP, DHQ is now the Chief of Defence Space Administration.

    “Erstwhile Commandant Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, AVM Anthony Tuwase is now the Chief of Defence Transformation and Innovation (CDTI), DHQ.

    “AVM Paul Masiyer is now the Chief of Logistics, HQ NAF.

    “AVM Ibikunle Daramola, the erstwhile Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Ground Training Command (GTC) is appointed the Chief of Communications Information Systems (CCIS), HQ NAF.

    “AVM Samuel Chinda now takes over as Chief of Air Intelligence, HQ NAF, while AVM Anthony Ndace is now the Air Secretary, HQ NAF.

    “AVM Emmanuel Wonah, former Chief of Aircraft Engineering is now the Commandant Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.

    “AVM Charles Ohwo, former CDTI has now been appointed as the Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Lagos.

    “AVM Paul Jemitola, the immediate past Air Secretary is now the Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna and AVM Abraham Adole as the Commandant, Air Force War College, Makurdi”.  

    The newly appointed AOCs are AVM Sayo Olatunde, former Commandant Air Force War College who is now the AOC, Ground Training Command, Enugu; and AVM Ebimobo Ebiowe is now the AOC Mobility Command, Yenagoa. 

    Also, former Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore (Air Cdre) Edward Gabkwet has been appointed Commander 551 NAF Station, Jos.

    Congratulating the new appointees, Amao urged them to bring their professional experiences to bear and continually explore new methods of proffering workable solutions and renewed strategies to resolving the security challenges in the country. 

    The statement said the newly appointed and redeployed senior officers are expected to assume their offices on or before January 6.

  • Men become proud when hyped by their women, claims BBNaija’s Veeiye

    Men become proud when hyped by their women, claims BBNaija’s Veeiye

    Former BBNaija ‘Lockdown’ housemate Veeiye has shared her thoughts about the point when men eventually begin to ‘fumble’ in a relationship.

    She opined the instance a lady begins to boast about her man to her friends, he immediately starts misbehaving.

    Read Also: I’m under pressure to get married, says BBN Veeiye

    The London-born singer who was in a relationship with her fellow reality TV star, Neo Mobor Akpofure argued her claim works like magic.

    She said: “You start bragging about a nigga to your friends and that’s when he starts to fumble. E dey work like magic.”